Gears of War Esports League Announced

Starting next week, eight North American teams will have the chance to curb stomp and chainsaw their digital opponents in pursuit of money.

Microsoft and the ESL have announced the Gears of War Pro League, an eSports league pitting eight teams against each other in a tournament for a prize pool of $50,000. The teams include Annex, EnVyUs, Enemy eSports, Murder by Numbers, Swarm Gaming, Synergy, Tragedy, and VexX Gaming.

Players wanting to participate from home can purchase an exclusive weapon skin for $5. Called the "Sweaty" weapon skin, all proceeds will be used to fund future tournaments and prize purses.

They can also participate in the Gears of War Open Series, a ten-week long amateur tournament in which players can compete in pro-style matches for cash rewards and a wireless Elite controller for the Xbox One. This event starts on Sunday, October 25. Visit the series' official website to learn more.

Microsoft has recorded more than 10 million online multiplayer matches played since Gears of War: Ultimate Edition's August 25 release. Read IGN's Gears of War review to learn why you can never have too much of a good thing.